Casting machine



1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l l l l l l I l l l I n@ www@ mv mv H. C. MERRILL CASTING MCHNFJ' Fila-d Ap'ril 8.

April 29, 1930.

April 29, 1930. H, C, MERR|LL l ,756,654

l CASTTNQ MCHINE Filed April 8, 1927 y 2 Sheei s-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 1930 f HARRY C. MERRILL, 0F, CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE EAGLE-FICHIER LEAD COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OEQOHIO CASTING MACHINE' Application filed April 8, 1927. Serial No. 182,160.

This invention relates to a device for expeditiously forming solid objects from a molten or Vfluid mass of material such as molten Vlead or solder and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device that willforml bar solder or lead objects with a minimumvof waste material.

Another object is to mold metallic objects which will have a vsmoother finish than it has heretofore been possible to acquire.

Another object is to expedite the operation of forming such objects and to diminish the amount of manual labor heretofore necessary in the manufacture thereof. A v

Another object is to provide a device for the purposes stated whichrequires little attention and is inexpensive to operate.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational `view partly in section showing the device of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a'secti-onal view on line 2-2 of 'F ig. l

F ig. 3 is a detail view partly in section, showing a mold and conveyor means. j

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a bar of solder or lead produced by the device Aofthe invention.

Fig. 5 is a detail view'of a discharge mecharlhe device-'comprises briefly a conveyor 8 carrying bucket shaped molds'9 which are adapted Vtobe immersed in avcontainer `10 of molten solderor lead and to be withdrawn therefrom in an upright position, filled with the molten metal. The filled molds thereupon travel upwardly between a pair of perforate tubes 11 which direct cooling air from a blowv means of which the bar is conveyed to a keg or other container, not shown, and is ready for shipment. The various mechanisms for ac compllshing the above operations will now be f j described in detail.

rihe conveyor 8 is preferably of the chain type in which links .17, comprising side plates 18 and 19 joined by a web or plate 20, are coupiedl together by any suitable means such as that' shown in Fig. 3. The means here employed comprises a hook portion 21 on one end of each side plate forming the link, said hooks being adapted for receiving a transverse bar 22 joining the opposite ends of the side plates,

thereby coupling the links together for forming a iexible conveyor. Any number of such links may be joined to form an endless con veyor, the length of which determines the capaeity and speed of operation of the device.

Buckets or molds 9 of any desired shape are secured to adjacent or alternate links 17 by means of rivets or the like 23 passing through a flange 24 on the mold andthe web 2O which connects and spaces the side plates 18 and 19 of the link. As shown in Fig. 3, the mold is provided with a bottom 25, and a mouth 26 A for fillingl and emptying the mold. lThe inner surfaces 27 are preferably highly finished.

Upon a suitable Asupport member 28, which may be secured to a floor or ceiling, is mountled a freely rotatable shaft 29 having keyed or otherwise secured thereto a pulley wheel 30, sprocket V31 and cam Wheel 32. A belt 33 transmits motion of a motor or engine, not shown, to the pulley and shaft for rotating the cam and the sprocket. The conveyor 8 passes over and receives its continuous motion in the direction indicated by the arrows, from sprocket 31. The conveyor' is also sup'- ported upon a l conveyor roller 14 mounted ica,

upon a shaft 34 freely rotatable in a second support member 35.v

A hammer mechanism l5 comprising a cam arm 36, and a Weighted head 37 carried by an arm'38, is pivotally mounted at 39 upon thev .support member 28, or, if desired it may have a mounting upon shaft 29. Projections 40 on the cam Wheel 32 contact the arm 36'of the hammer mechanism which is so timed in relation to the molds that as each mold assumes the inverted position indicated at 90, the head 37 strikes the bottom 25 ofthe mold and causes the solidified bar of metal formed therein to drop to the chute 16. I Fig. Y5 clearly shoivs the hammer mechanism in its operative and inoperative positions relative to mold 90.V

Depending portions 41 and 42 of conveyor 8 are guided by rollers 43 and 44 which are Y Lead is allow-ed to floW'from the furnace through a valve 52 haviiigcontrol means 53. A length of tubing 54, preferably heated by a burner 55, conveys the fluid lead to the heated container l0. In this manner, the presence of solid lumps of metal in the container llO is-Y precluded. e Y .A

A means for precluding sticking of the molten fluid to the conveyor and molds is v also provided. The said means comprises a Y form upon the conveyor and molds.

Ysmoker 56 which consists of any fuel burning device emitting arsmolre or soot which will As shown in Fig. 1, the smoker comprises a fuel pipe 57 at the'free end of which a flame 58 mayV be directed upon the partsto be smoked. A

valve 59 controls the flame. It is obvious that molds of the depending portion 41 are inverted While those'on the depending portion V 42 are iiran uprightposition and are filled Vwith molten metal. ltshould be noted that tubes 11 are provided with end caps 60 thus precluding escape of air from the blower 12 through any exit other than perforations 6l. y

' For the purpose of connmgrthe slag or dross Which forms on the surface of the Vmolten mass, so that a pure finished product Y is secured, ymetal bars'63 are mounted transversely of the container lO as shown in F ig. 2. VThe bars are suspended from lugs 64 Which iff rest upon the top of container l0, whereby the bars extend partlyk above andpartly below the surface of themolten metal in the container. It is obvious that any slag that might enter the container l0 by Way of conduit 54 will be confined to the rsurface between the bars 63, thus precluding its entry into the molds or buckets 9. The surface of the molten metal isperiodically skimmed of slag. The result ofthis arrangement is the productionV of a bar of greater purity. 'Y It has been found that the vdevice here described not only expedites the-operation of casting lead bars, but alsodelivers a finished tive surface thanlead bars manufactured by the method heretofore in use. Furthermore,

in the old method, there was considerable metal spilled and Wasted due to careless handling by. Workmen. This device eliminates all Wastage and effects a great increase in production. A* v 'What isclaimed is- Aproductvhaving a smoother and more attracl. ln a device forv casting metallic bars, ,i

the combination of container for holding a quantity of molten metal, a support means disposed above the container, a drive'menr ber and a conveyor roller -carried by the sup port means, a second conveyor-.roller adapted to extend into the container of molten metal,

an endless conveyor comprising a plurality of hollow molds and vdisposed about .the drive member and the conveyor' rollers, the drivey member imparting continuous motion to the` conveyor, and the second roller serving to immerse'each mold in the container of molten metal for filling theV mold with the .molten metal, means for subsequently directing a cooling medium upon the filled molds whereby to solidify the metal containedtherein, and means comprising a hammer lmember mounted adjacentthe drive member, for striking each mold as it approaches the hammer there by loosening the metallic bar from therinterior of the mold and assuring its discharge therefrom. Y

2. In a. device for casting metallic bars, the i combination of a container for holding a quantity of'nioltenmetal, means for feeding molten metal to the container, aheater 'asso- Yciated iviththe container for heating the container and retaining the moten 4metal ina fluid state, an endless conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced molds adaptedto be successively moved into the container of molten metal and Withdrawn therefrom filled With`l the molten metal, means for directing acooling mediumV upon the filled moldsduringj their movement from the container for so- Y lidifying the molten Vmetal in the molds, means for inverting the molds during their continued movement, and means for dislodging the solidifying metal-bar from the inte-v rior of the invertedV mold, whereby to discharge the bar.

3.111 a devicerfor casting metallic bars,

the comb-ination of a container for holding a quantity of molten metal, means for feeding molten metal to the container, a heater associated with the container for heating Ythe container and retaining the-molten metal in a fluid state, an endless conveyor comprising al plurality of spaced molds adapted to be successively moved into the container of molten metal and withdrawn therefrom filled with the molten metal, means for precluding adhesion of the molten metal to the mold interior, means for directing a cooling medium upon the filled molds dur-ing their movement from the container for solidifying the molten metal in the molds, means for inverting the molds during their continued moveyment, and means for dislodging the solidified metal bar from the interior of the inverted mold, whereby to discharge the bar.

4. In a device for casting bars, the combination of a heater, a container associated with the heater and adapted for containing molten material, a conveyor comprising bucket shaped molds adapted to extend into the container of molten material for filling the molds with molten material and for withdrawing the filled molds from the container in an upright position, means for sclidifying the molten material within the molds and comprising a perforate tube and a blower connected therewith, the perforations of the tube being so disposed as to direct air under pressure upon the molds, and a hammer for striking the molds for discharging therefrom the solidified material. f

5. A metal bar casting device comprising an endless mold4 conveyor moving in a vertical plane for alternate inversion and righting of the molds, a molten metal supply disposed below the conveyor and into which the molds are projected for filling the molds with molten metal, and means for receiving the contents of the molds when inverted above the metal supply.

6. A metal bar casting device comprising an endless bucket conveyor moving in a vertical plane for alternate inversion and righting of the buckets, a molten metal supply disposed below the conveyor and into which the buckets are projected for filling the buckets with molten metal, means for receiving the contents of the buckets when inverted above the metal supply, and means between the receiving means and metal supply for treating the buckets and conveyor for precluding adhesion of molten metal thereto.

7. A metal bar casting device comprising an endless bucket conveyor moving in a vertical plane for alternate inversion and righting of the buckets, a molten metal supply disposed below the conveyor and into which the buckets are projected for filling the buckets with molten metal, means for directing a cooling medium upon the filled buckets for solidifying the molten metal contained therein and mea-ns for receiving the contents of the buckets when inverted above the molten metal supply.

8. A casting device comprising an endless bucket conveyor moving in a vertical plane for alternate i-nversion vand righting `of the the buckets, a tank disposed below the y-conveyor and into which the buckets are projected for filling the rvbuckets with a molten material which solidifies upon cooling, and means for striking each bucket while in inverted position for dislodgingthe contents of the bucket after solidiiication of ythe molten material .in the bucket.

j r9. A metal bar casting device comprising an endless conveyor provided with' buckets and movable in a vertical plane for alternate inversion and righting of the buckets, a molten metal container below the conveyor into which the buckets are projected for .filling the buckets with Ymolten metal which solidifies upon cooling, heating means associated with the container for maintainingthe metal in a fiuid state, a furnace and heated conduit associated with the container for replacing molten metal removed bythe buckets, means for treating .the conveyor and buckets for precluding adhesion of the metal thereto, means for cooling the iilledbuckets for solidifying` the metal contained therein and means for discharging the resultant solidified 4metal from the buckets. i

l0. The combination of a container vfor molten metal,a heatingmeans associated with the container for lmaintainingthe metal lin ka fiuid state, means for confining 'floating dross on 'the surface of the `molten metal said means comprising a partition baradapted to extend into the container, said bar being disposed above and below 4and spaced Yfrom 'the contai-ner thereby providinga dross compartment anda clean metal ncompartment communicating therewith underneath the partition bar whereby both compartments maintain the same level of fiuid metal, means moving through the container for removing molten metal from the clean metal compartment, and means for feeding molten metal to the dross compartment.

1l. A metal bar casting device comprising an endless conveyor provided with buckets and movable in a vertical plane for alternate inversion and righting of the buckets, a container below the convey-or and into which the buckets are projected' for filling the buckets with a molten metal which solidifies upon cooling, means for confining the dross of the molten metal to preclude entry of said dross into the buckets, and means for discharging the solidified contents of the buckets while in inverted position.

12. A metal bar casting device comprising an endless conveyor provided with buckets and movable in a vertical plane for alternate inversion and righting of the buckets, a container below the conveyor and into which the `buckets are successively projected, for filling the bucketsk with molten metal which solidifies upon cooling, means for confining dross upon the surface of the metal said means coml'lL) prising spaced depending partition bars disposed \vithin the container transversely thereof, means for feeding to the container the molten metal for the buckets, at a point intermediate the spaced bars, and means for discharging the'contents of the buckets after cooling and solidication'of said contents 13. A metal bar casting deviceoomprising an endless bucket convey-or moving in a vertical plane for alternate inversion and righting of the buckets, means for treating the Conveyor and buckets for precluding adhesion of molten metal thereto, a container disposed below the conveyor and into which the buckets are projected for lling the buckets With molten metal, means for directing a cooling,- medium upon the filled buckets whereby to cool and solidify the molten metal contained therein and means for receiving the resultant solidified metal bars as the buckets Vassume the inverted position for dise charge ofthe bars therefrom.

14. The combination with a container for I molten metal of means for confining dross floating on the surface of the molten metal said means comprising a partition adapted to extend foi a distance into the container above and belowv the normal height of molten metakthereby dividing the container into a dross compartment and a clean metal compartment communicating therewith and means moving through the container for removing molten metal from lthe clean vmetal compartment.

Y In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub scribedl my name this 7th day of April, 1927.

y HARRY O. MERRILL. 

